Protector



E. GILBERT Jan. 14, 1936.

PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 7, 1935 Iil.

lll: ffl) Patented im. 14, 193e UNITED STATES s PATENT oFEICE anzaoso rnorEc'roa men Gubert. Jasper, Ala. applicaties september '1, 1935, .serian No. `39,656

40mm. 'torri-zei' This invention relates to a protector designed primarily for use at playgrounds and parks, but

it is to be understood that it may be employed in any connection for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of the class referred to providing a protector against injury. to a child or adult from collision with a post, upright, tree trunk, stump,

abutment or other obstacle to which the pro--` tector has been applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a protector of the air cushioned type having means to permit of it being readily connected, in encompassing relation to a post, upright, tree trunk,

stump or other upstanding article toconstitute a protecting means in case of collision.

Further objects of the invention yare to pro--` 2o vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a protector for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction, strong, durable, compact, Il readily assembled, of the inflatable air cushionedif4 type, capable of being conveniently inflatedr when occasion requires, expeditiously connected in encompassing relation with respect to an upstanding obstacle, thoroughly emcient in its use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially `and to others a0 which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more spe ciilcally described and illustrated in the accom- Dnying drawing wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and `modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a top plan view, broken away, of

the protector,

2-2 Figure 1,`

Figure 2 is a section on line and Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 Figure 1.

,45 The protector includes an outer element] constituting a casing or cover and an inner secg tion 5 providing a pneumatic cushion, which when the device is set up is completely housed and retained in the element 4.

The element 4 is formed of a pair of oppositely disposed sections 5, 1 formed from` any suitable durable fabric. Each of said sections includes an intermediate portion 3 and a pair of opp sitely disposed angle-shaped end'portions 3,10

havinginnerandouterlegsdisposedatrixht angles to each other. The inner and outer legs of each end portion 9 are designated at II, I2 respectively. The inner and outer legs of each end portion I0 are designated I3, I4 respectively.'

`The outer leg I2 of each end portion 9 is formed 5^ I with a lseries of spaced grommets I5. The grom- Theside portions I1, I3 are secured together by stitching 2l. The side portions I3. 20 are-secured together by stitching 22. 'I'he construction of the` element 4, as aforesaid provides-a. cover 20 or casing closed at one end and at its sides and open at its other end.

The element 5 is formed from a body of resilient material preferably rubber. 'I'he element A 5 comprises'a series of spaced parallel oblong 25 hollow inatable members 23 of substantially rectangular cross section having rounded side corners 2l. y"Each inner member 23 has closed squared end walls 25, 26, closed squared front and rear walls 21, 28 respectively and side walls 30 29, 30 formed in vproximity tothe end wall 25 Withaligning openings 3|, 32. One of the outer members 23 of said series is constructed similar to the inner members. with this exception, that the outer side wall 33 -of such outer member is 35 not formed with an opening.- Theopening in the inner side wall 3l of saidouter member is 4indicated at 35 and alig'ns with the opening 32 in an inner member adjacent to thefsaid outer member. The latter is positioned against the 40 end portions III of the sections 5, 1. The other outer member 23 of said series is positioned against the said portion 3` of the sections 6, 1 and it is formed similar to the other members 23 with this exception, that its rear wan as 1s 4 Aformed with an air supply opening 31 and has attached' thereto an air illling valve `structure 33 'which registers with opening 31. 'I'he inner .wall of thesaid other outer member 23 of said 50 series has an opening 40 which aligns with the opening 3| in an inner member 23` adjacent to the said otherouter member 23 of said series.

The members 23 are connected together by a series ofshort tubes or necks 4I connected there- 55 f 2 ondoso Y .Y

chored to one o1' the legs at the other end of to andy registering with the openings 3|, l2, 35

and 40.

The members 23 provide element 5 with a series of communicating spaced pressure receiving chambersfH'.

After the element has been iniiated it is positioned in element 4. The element 5 is extended into element 4 from the open end ot the latter. When element 5 is arranged in element 4 the valve structure 38 is interposed between the rear wall 36 of the outer member 23 and the section 'I of element 4.

The protector is connected in encompassing relation with respect to an upstanding obstruction by bringing the grommets I5 into registry with grommets I 6 and a suitable tie member, not shown, is extended through the registering grommets whereby the legs I2, I4 are secured together. The grommets I5 or I6 may be used with a suitable coupling means not shown for connecting two or more protectors together.

What I claim is:

1. A protector comprising a iiexible foldable casing including front and rear portions, side portionsV and endV portions, each end portion being formed with a pair of outwardly directed opposed legs, spaced grommets anchoring the legs at one end of the casing together, a. pair of sets of spaced grommets, each set being anchored to one of the legs at the other end of the casing, said sets of grommets being arranged in registry,

anda foldable inflatable resilient element encompassed by and abutting the said portions of said casing, said element being formed of a series of spaced, parallel hollow members and tubular `means communicating with and coupling `said of sets of spaced grommets, each set being antbe casing, said sets of grommets being arranged in registry, and a foldable innatable resilient element encompassed by and abutting the said portions ofsaid casing, said element being formed of a series of spaced, parallel hollow members and tubular means communicating with and coupling said members together, said tubular means arranged between the transverse median and one end of each of said members, and said members providing said element with a series of spaced pressure receiving chambers.

3. A protector comprising a iiexible toldable casing having an open end, a closed end and closed sides, front and rear, said casing at its closed end being formed with a set of spaced grommets, said casing being formed at its open end with a pair of sets of spaced grommets for registry, and a. foldable inatable element completely encompassed by and snugly engaging said casing, said element including a series of spaced, parallel communicating pressure receiving chambers, and the said several sets of grommets adapted to be brought into registry for receiving a coupling means for retaining the protector in folded position and to close the open end of the casing.

4. A protector comprising a flexible foldable casing having an open end, a closed end and closed sides. front and rear, said casing at its closed end being formed with a. set of spaced grommets, said casing being formed at its open end with a pair of sets of spaced grommets for registry, and a foldable inflatable element cornpletely encompassed by and. snugly engaging said casing, said element including a series of spaced, parallel communicating pressure receiving chambers, and the said several sets of grommets adapted to be brought into registry for receiving a coupling means for retaining the protector in folded position and to close the open end of the casing, said chambers being disposed transversely of said casing.

, ESKELL GILBERT. 

